Phoenix (U.S.)

Destination: Mars. Launch: Aug. 2007. Arrival: May
25, 2008. Mission: To study and analyze past and current existence
of water on Mars while assessing the potential of a habitable biological
zone on the planet. The spacecraft Phoenix (a fixed lander) touched down
at Mars’ North Pole, the first successful powered landing on the planet
since the Viking missions in 1976. The Martian poles are surrounded by
large deposits of ice, leading scientists to believe that the poles hold
the best evidence of life on Mars. The northern pole was selected for its
maximum exposure to the Sun’s radiation, optimizing the capability of the
lander’s 18-foot wide solar array, a device that converts solar radiation
into electricity. The lander is equipped with multiple cameras, tools for
soil examination, a meteorological station for atmospheric study, and most
importantly, a robotic arm. The robotic arm is responsible for gathering
soil samples for various onboard instruments to analyze. The Phoenix will
only be operational for three months because of the extreme conditions the
coming winter will bring. The lander’s onboard cameras will capture the
gradual transition into winter, which will freeze the lander in a thick
layer of carbon dioxide, and thus render it unable to function.